Elaro wrote:Much to the chagrin of Newfoundlanders who hoped it would make the trip to Toronto shorter, Quebec isn't going to separate from Canada. We just booted out the PQ (that's the leading national brand of separatist crazies) and they were replaced by the Liberals, who are pretty much the only federalist party and who dominate the National Assembly by 71 of 125, so don't worry about Quebec separating just yet!
Instead worry about where I am going to get my education, because they seem keen on that dread platform austerity.
But I digress.
Please continue discussing britexit.
I'm going to continue the digression for a bit, if we don't mind - as I say, it's of particular interest to me. I live in Ottawa, and I can see Quebec from the main road by my house. I have family in Gatineau. It's local to me.
I suppose what bothers me the most is seeing the parallels between the Leave camp this time around and the Pequistes in the 90s. Namely, all the promises that things wouldn't change too much, and that everyone would continue to enjoy the benefits of the status quo while
also gaining independence (Brexit Leavers: "There will be no negative economic consequences and we'll end up with more money overall." Pequistes: "We will continue to receive transfer payments, use the Canadian dollar, and be defended by the Canadian military. Also, we won't need to take on our portion of the national debt.")
All lies and nonsense, of course, intended to convince voters that the consequences of leaving wouldn't be negative, in order to shore up the leave vote. It didn't work in Quebec in 1995... but it sure worked yesterday in Britain.
My concern is that seeing this (as well as a successful Brexit vote and the upcoming independence referendum in Scotland... and probably one in Northern Ireland) will embolden the Pequistes and other sovereigntist parties. It might even compel them to try again with the lies. If it worked in Britain, and almost worked in Quebec, why not try it again?
Also concerning is the number of British voters saying "I voted leave as a protest/to force EU concessions... but I didn't actually want to leave! Now I'm terrified..." Because, well, a lot of people who voted in the Quebec referenda voted for the exact same reasons. They wanted concessions from Ottawa. And the hell of it is, they
got them. So it worked. But 95 was a damned close thing, and those voting to get concessions would have been unhappy had the vote gone the other way - just like Britain now. I'm a little afraid that if there is another Quebec referendum at some point, there will be protest/concession voters who push it all over a cliff, then regret it. And I worry that the sovereigntists not only
know that, but would
encourage it.
The one thing that gives me a little hope is that the EU is playing hardball. They're saying "You voted 'Out,' so get out. Fast. No, you don't get concessions or benefits. This is a clean, total break. I don't care what you were told. Life is hard."
Which... yeah. It sucks. It's hard on Britons, and I'm really sorry about it. But from my perspective, well, it does put to lie the Quebec sovereigntist myth that an independence vote would result in nothing more than a renegotiation of terms with the rest of Canada, rather than a break. They've always claimed that a Yes vote would mean Quebec City could force Ottawa to do anything it wants; the fallout in Brussels and London right now is showing what a delusional lie that is.